"The Ruler should not have any barrier which separates him from his people”

I was lucky enough to get an interview a few weeks back with Dr. Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi, known as The Green Sheikh. The Sheikh worked in the oil industry for about three years before changing from polluter to environmentalist. It was in 1996 he started his real journey to green commitment with equal delivery. He said “Before going to paradise? First you have to go to Hell.”

What is new in Ajman about environmental protection and your job? 

Environmental protection being enforced through law and regulations in one hand and in another is based in education. Environment is not a job for me but it is life a mission, as a volunteer to advise the government of Ajman for cutting edge mind shift and behavior change, and to continue promoting environmental stewardship to the public and most young leaders.

I have read about your roles and duties and you have so many things to do, plus you have five kids. How do You spend your free time, do you have free time? 

[Those] who have no free time means that there are some problems. But I do have valued time which I spend either reading, writing or thinking, or continuing impacting people around the world positively. The rule of thumb is priorities and establishing balance. Now I do have 6 children.

You have the title of the Sheikh, you break down barriers, talk with the people and your behavior is more than unique. Is it difficult for you to adhere to the protocol?

I am a human being and down to earth, that’s what makes me different than others. Protocol is important when you are in official event or ceremony. Suddenly you break all those protocols for a natural influence and to be more at the level of thinking of the people.

“The UAE’s first nuclear energy plant is expected to begin providing power to the country’s electricity grid in 2017. A further three plants are scheduled to be operational by 2020.” Is that good decision? 

Politically and economically yes, but from social and environmental point of views are absolutely no. It has the dimension threat of unknown future ? And most by politically international pressures rather internal.

Dubai, Ajman, Abu Dhabi… beautiful cities, but that means more tourists. Can tourism represents the pressure on the natural heritage and how to protect the ecosystems? 

I don’t think so, many projects now are on-going for Eco tourism in protected areas, coastline and the natural habitat in the deserts, mountains and valleys. In addition, beaches for scuba diving to wreck dive sites and other preserved heritage for pearl diving.

Is it easier to be falconer or falcon? 

Anyone can be falconer but to be a falcon is very special and unique. Few people fly with the hawks and many people remain with the crocks.

What does Ihsan mean?

The basic of Ihsan means, doing more than just enough. Going higher or to the next level than normal, it is for excellence and competence. Also it means continuous improvement, saving and improving lives. Goodness and kindness. Even removing a harmful object from the pathway is Ihsan. Being good to your parents. Finally, the ultimate Ihsan is worshiping God as you see Him, and if you can not see Him, He sees you.

Think globally, act locally. One of the problems is that there is usually the question “Alone, what can I change?” What do you can say to these people? 

Starting with small changes will impact great things. If you want to change the world just change yourself for the better. That’s truly enough. As Brandi Snyder quoted “To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.”

You have been to the Antarctica as a polar explorer. Which was the most value thing You have learned and would You like to do something like that soon? 

The appreciation of the things we don’t own. Respect, responsible, rethink of our limited resources, and most are spreading peace and love that can all have the right to live in harmony and dignity. Antarctica is a pure place that has the secrets of balancing our planet and it is the white board we can monitor the earth is being well or not. This place is to remind us we are the custodians of this planet and how we can be champions to do our best for the best.

Your heroes are your father and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. What have you learned from them ?

Only two things! How to create sustainable leaders and balancing nature without harm.

Do You have any plans to write a biography and where can the people can find your books?

I already did write 3 books in Arabic, first was Our beautiful environment, second wasPrivate and secret of your in-veronment, and the third was Your strategy. My new book will be Break-through with GreenSheikh in both Arabic and English. I hope the new book will be international soon.

One interesting thing is that when you go to a restaurant you do not order for yourself but only for those around you, then you eat the remaining food. Is that enough food for you, I must ask?

Normally I eat less, not more than average of 1800 kcal per day, and the other things I like to share with people, also it can lead to no waste. One of my favorite quotes is “The richest person is not the person who has the most, but the person who needs the least!” Living well, with less, is not only a simple way to live, but it is the only way to live to keep joy and happiness at the center. Remember less is more!

Which ecosystem needs our maximum attention at this time?

Is our heart first! The most powerful ecosystem to fix before any others.

If you could ask yourself one question and answer it now, what would that be?

Why we are still living? To change yourselves every moment for the better and changing the world we want.

“Fly high with the Hawks and leave the other Crocks” – Abdul Aziz A. Al Nuaimi, AKA Green Sheikh.

Cover image: The Green Sheikh with a falcon.

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